Children's Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) Dose by Weight Calculator
Weight-based ibuprofen dose for a child aged 6 months and over: milligrams per dose at 5-10 mg/kg, the millilitres of the 100 mg/5 mL suspension, the 50 mg/1.25 mL infant drops or the UK 200 mg/5 mL liquid, the maximum single and 24-hour amounts and how many doses fit in a day. For checking an over-the-counter dose, not for prescribing.
Last updated: October 2026
Not medical advice. This calculator gives an estimate for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional. Always check with them before acting on the result, especially for medication doses, children, pregnancy or a medical condition, and follow the guidelines of your local health authority.
Formula below · 3 sources (medlineplus.gov, healthychildren.org, nhs.uk) · Updated Oct 2026
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About this calculator
Children's ibuprofen is dosed by weight: 5-10 mg per kilogram every 6-8 hours as needed, with no more than 4 doses in 24 hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics' table and the US Drug Facts label use 10 mg/kg at the bottom of each weight band (for example 100 mg for 24-35 lb), and 5 mg/kg is used for milder fever or pain. This calculator multiplies the weight by the mg/kg you choose, caps a single dose at 400 mg (the over-the-counter maximum, reached at 40 kg at 10 mg/kg) and rounds to the nearest milligram.
US children's suspension and UK infant liquid are both 100 mg per 5 mL (20 mg/mL); US infants' concentrated drops are 50 mg per 1.25 mL (40 mg/mL), measured with their own syringe and never with the suspension's cup; the UK Seven Plus liquid is 200 mg per 5 mL (40 mg/mL). Junior chewables are 100 mg, for ages 2 and over, and 200 mg tablets are for ages 12 and over; tablets are rounded down to whole tablets. Give ibuprofen with food or milk, and make sure the child is drinking, because it is harder on the stomach and kidneys of a dehydrated child.
The 24-hour limit shown is 40 mg/kg (four doses at 10 mg/kg) and never more than 1,200 mg, the over-the-counter ceiling; doctors may prescribe more for specific conditions. Ibuprofen is not approved in the US for babies under 6 months and the AAP advises against it at that age unless a doctor says otherwise; the UK allows it from 3 months and 5 kg on advice. The calculator therefore gives no dose for under 6 months and asks for a weight of at least 5 kg. Do not give ibuprofen to a child with chickenpox, dehydration, kidney problems, a bleeding disorder or a previous reaction to NSAIDs, and ask a pharmacist before combining it with other medicines. This tool checks an over-the-counter dose; it is not medical advice, and a pharmacist or doctor should confirm the dose for your child.
AAP weight-based dosing table for children's ibuprofen, 100 mg per 5 mL suspension and 50 mg per 1.25 mL infant drops (every 6-8 hours as needed, at most 4 doses in 24 hours; not under 6 months)
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| Child's weight | Dose | Suspension 100 mg/5 mL | Infant drops 50 mg/1.25 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-17 lb (5.4-7.7 kg), 6-11 months | 50 mg | 2.5 mL | 1.25 mL |
| 18-23 lb (8.2-10.4 kg), 12-23 months | 75 mg | 3.75 mL | 1.875 mL |
| 24-35 lb (10.9-15.9 kg) | 100 mg | 5 mL | — |
| 36-47 lb (16.3-21.3 kg) | 150 mg | 7.5 mL | — |
| 48-59 lb (21.8-26.8 kg) | 200 mg | 10 mL | — |
| 60-71 lb (27.2-32.2 kg) | 250 mg | 12.5 mL | — |
| 72-95 lb (32.7-43.1 kg) | 300 mg | 15 mL | — |
How to use
Example: a 3-year-old who weighs 15 kg (33 lb), 10 mg/kg, children's suspension 100 mg/5 mL. Enter 15 kg, 2 to 11 years, 10 mg/kg and the 100 mg/5 mL product. Dose = 15 × 10 = 150 mg. Volume = 150 ÷ 20 = 7.5 mL. Maximum single dose 150 mg; maximum in 24 hours 15 × 40 = 600 mg, so 4 doses of 150 mg fit, at least 6 hours apart. The AAP table gives 5 mL for 24-35 lb and 7.5 mL for 36-47 lb; at 33 lb a weight-based 7.5 mL matches the top of the lower band. An 8-month-old of 8.5 kg at 10 mg/kg with infant drops: 85 mg, which is 85 ÷ 40 = 2.1 mL of the 50 mg/1.25 mL drops, or 4.3 mL of the 100 mg/5 mL suspension. For a mild fever at 5 mg/kg the dose is 43 mg (1.1 mL of drops). A 13-year-old of 50 kg at 10 mg/kg: 50 × 10 = 500 mg, capped at 400 mg, which is 2 tablets of 200 mg. The 24-hour maximum is capped at 1,200 mg, so 3 doses of 400 mg fit in a day, not 4.
Frequently asked questions
How much ibuprofen can I give my child by weight?
The usual dose is 5-10 mg per kg every 6-8 hours, no more than 4 doses in 24 hours, for children aged 6 months and over. For a 10 kg (22 lb) child that is 50-100 mg, which is 2.5-5 mL of the 100 mg/5 mL suspension. The US label and the AAP table give fixed amounts per weight band (5 mL for 24-35 lb, 7.5 mL for 36-47 lb and so on) that match 10 mg/kg at the bottom of each band.
Why can babies under 6 months not have ibuprofen?
Ibuprofen has not been shown to be safe in infants under 6 months and the FDA has not approved it for them; their kidneys are less able to handle it and they dehydrate quickly. Acetaminophen is the usual choice for younger babies, and under 3 months a fever needs a doctor rather than medicine. In the UK, ibuprofen may be given from 3 months if the baby weighs over 5 kg, but only on advice from a doctor or pharmacist.
What is the difference between infant drops and children’s suspension?
The concentration. US infants’ drops are 50 mg per 1.25 mL (40 mg/mL), twice as strong as the children’s suspension at 100 mg per 5 mL (20 mg/mL), so the same number of millilitres contains double the ibuprofen. Each product comes with its own measuring device; using the suspension cup for drops, or vice versa, is a common cause of overdose or underdose. Select the product you actually have so the millilitres match the bottle.
What is the maximum ibuprofen a child can have in 24 hours?
Four doses in 24 hours, which at 10 mg/kg is 40 mg/kg per day, and never more than 1,200 mg over the counter (six 200 mg tablets for ages 12 and over). Doses should be at least 6 hours apart. Children aged 12 and over use the adult label: 200 mg every 4-6 hours, 400 mg if needed, maximum 1,200 mg a day unless a doctor directs otherwise. Higher prescription doses exist for conditions such as juvenile arthritis but are not what this calculator shows.
When should I not give ibuprofen?
Do not give it to a dehydrated child (vomiting, diarrhoea, not drinking), a child with chickenpox, kidney disease, a bleeding disorder, stomach ulcers, severe asthma that has reacted to NSAIDs before, or an allergy to ibuprofen or aspirin, and ask a doctor first if the child takes other regular medicines. Give it with food. Stop and seek advice if the child vomits blood, has black stools, a rash, swelling, breathing difficulty or passes very little urine.
Can ibuprofen and acetaminophen be given together?
They can be alternated or, on medical advice, given together, because they work differently and have separate dose limits. Alternating raises the risk of a mix-up, so write down every dose with the time and the medicine. Keep each drug inside its own limits: ibuprofen every 6-8 hours, at most 4 doses a day; acetaminophen every 4-6 hours, at most 5 doses a day. See the companion acetaminophen dose by weight page.
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Sources & references
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